The Royal Wolff

Chapter 1: Hasta La Vista, Baby

“Me? Mated to the Werewolf Prince? Shut up!” I exclaimed in surprise before playfully pushing my friend in front of me, acting out my line the best that I could in our second to the last rehearsal before the big production.

“Yes, you. Didn’t you ever wonder why he was always looking at you whenever he passed by us?” Sheila wiggled her eyebrows at me in a teasing way.

“It’s impossible! I thought he was merely just messing around. Come on, me? A simple-” I paused for a quick second, trying my best not to internally roll my eyes at the script. “A simple high school student who’s practically nobody mated with the Prince himself? He’s a god!”

A god? Sheesh, who made this script? Whoever it was, they must be obsessed with Wood Crest High’s quarterback, Nathan, who’s playing the Werewolf Prince.

“Come on, Anita. Out of everyone around here, it should be you who knows exactly what the Moon Goddess is doing. Mates are fate.” Sheila looked at me now more seriously and I once again had to stop myself from cringing at the script.

If only I didn’t need this extracurricular to get my English grade up to A+ because I didn’t have to prove I could also be good in classes like my twin brother, then I wouldn’t be in this mess.

I, Anita Wolff, an actual werewolf, wouldn’t have to pretend to be a human pretending to be a wolf in a high school play. Talk about irony, right?

“Speak of the devil, here comes the mate you’ve been waiting for.” Sheila whispered to me as she hurriedly pulled me to turn to the right side where Nathan was walking towards us.

Nathan O’Hare was wearing his signature outfit which pretty much just consisted of his Football jersey. This guy had his head so far up his ass you could ask him how the weather was from up there.

I forgot I was still in the act until Sheila nudged me and I hurriedly recomposed myself just as Nathan showed up in front of me.

“Well, if it isn’t the little pup who’s lucky to be mated to me. Have you got an answer to my question yet?” Nathan looked at me with a smirk, his steely blue eyes directly looking at me as he raised his hand and began to play with my hair.

Oh Moon Goddess, hold me before I slap this boy. The only people I have ever let touch my hair were my parents, as much as others desperately wanted to because of how different it looked. My parents said when I was born my hair was a caramel shade. It was only when I started getting older that I began to get streaks of light gray in them. My brother’s hair, on the other hand, wasn’t as flashy, but was also special because it was light brown in the dark, but in the light it became auburn.

“So? Do you?” Nathan repeated his question as he looked at me with a raised brow.

Keep it together, Anita. Remember, you need this grade.

I softly cleared my throat before putting on the fakest smile that I could. The character I was acting was this nobody, a high school student that was often bullied, but out of nowhere she becomes mated to the all-famous Werewolf Prince, and when she thought everything was going to change for her… she gets the slap of her life when the Prince proposes something crazy.

And honestly speaking, I was supposed to know what the proposal was but I fell asleep memorizing the script and this was the last part that I read since they changed it a week ago.

“I’m sorry. What question was it again, Prince?” I asked, acting innocently because it was exactly the role I was given.

This Anita was supposed to be shy and soft spoken. A girl who felt honored to have been mated with the Prince himself, but in reality, it was the complete opposite of who I really was. I had a very strong view when it came to being a woman and it was simple, actually.

Women didn’t need men.

Nathan took a sharp inhale before exhaling right after. He leaned closer to me and I had to stop the urge to punch him square on the face. Just five minutes left until rehearsal ends, Anita. Five minutes left. You can get past this.

“I will accept you as my mate as long as-” Nathan paused before glancing to his back and I followed where his gaze went and it landed on another one of the students at the side of the stage.

Melissa MccArthy, the popular girl in the characters. What was she doing here and looking all smug?

Wait a darn second, is the script-

Nathan turned back to me before I could finish my thoughts.

“As long as you let Melissa continue being my girlfriend.”

I choked on air as the words processed in my head. What did he just say? Did he just really propose accepting me as his mate, but he was to keep his girlfriend? Was this some kind of joke? They took a week to change the script and they came back with this misogynistic crap?

I felt anger start to boil inside of me like a volcano about to explode. I began to think about my grade and all I needed was to do this play, but it was no longer working. I wasn’t going to stand here and act like this was alright even if it was just pretend because maybe, in other wolves’ lives, there really were mates that were treated like this and I wasn’t going to be a part of that.

“You think you’re so handsome, huh?” I spat out to Nathan, who went from looking at me with a smug expression to baffled.

“Having a mate, but deciding to cheat on them with someone else - you think that makes you a big man, Nathan?” I continued to speak up my thoughts, burying Nathan and his ego.

He started to become more flustered, most likely wondering if this was part of the script, while the others around the stage too became confused.

“Anita, what are you saying? That’s not your line!” Sheila whispered to me as she shot me a look.

“Well, this script sucks! I don’t want to be a part of this misogynistic play. I’m done.” I exclaimed to everyone in the auditorium before turning around and beginning to walk away.

“What the hell just happened?” I heard Nathan wonder and some of the other people there began to talk.

Whispers and murmurs filled the place but I didn’t bother to stop. Three years at this school and this was the last straw. My parents asked me if I wanted to study in a human school and I chose to do so because I wanted to be “normal”. I wanted to feel like I wasn’t any different from anybody else, especially on the day we found out my brother and I did have the blood of a wolf, albeit our father losing it before. We only found out when we got into a small accident and we healed instantly.

“Anita Wolff, come back here or you’re not passing your English class!”

I stopped walking, my feet became frozen on the ground when our English teacher’s words echoed in my ears. s**t.

I joined this play to prove a point that I could get better grades like my brother, but if I leave right now, I would be losing all of that.

My eyes momentarily closed as I took deep breaths to calm myself down and thoroughly think about my decision. It was bad enough that I had to pretend for this play, but when they changed the story to this? Absolutely absurd and they can’t expect me to be fine with that.

“Anita, get back-”

I made my decision as I continued walking out of the auditorium. I could hear the loud gasps of everyone around the room and the second I shut the door and was back in the school hallway, my heart was racing inside my chest.

“Holy crap, did I really just walk out of my English class?” I asked myself stunned as the adrenaline rush of my decision was beginning to wear off and it was sinking in.

“I am so freaking-”

“Anita Wolff, please proceed to the principal’s office.” My name echoed in the school hallway.

“Screwed.”

-

“Props to you, little monster.” I looked up when a familiar voice spoke up and I was right to know it was none other than my twin.

“Mom and dad are definitely going to have a field day about this.” He chuckled before sitting next to me outside the waiting area of the principal’s office.

It’s been five minutes since I got here, but I was only told to wait. Mathieu must have heard the announcement and went here to either annoy me or well, annoy me. There was no other action my brother would do.

“I know. This is all your fault.” I huffed as I crossed my arms in front of my chest and pouted at him.

“Hey, hold on, how is this my fault? I was merely minding my own business doing a project when I heard your name called.” He looked at me with a raised brow.

“Well if you didn’t have such good grades all the time then I wouldn’t have been pressured to get higher ones too and then I wouldn’t have joined that ridiculous play! Ugh.” I groaned in frustration.

“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a series of unfortunate events.” Mathieu teased before chuckling loudly.

“Ow!” I shut him up immediately with a punch on his arm.

“Violence isn’t going to help you in your dilemma, little monster.” He looked at me with a smug expression.

“Yeah, but it can shut my annoying brother up which is so much better.” I raised my fist up at him again in a threatening manner, but hurriedly put it down when I heard the door beside us open.

I immediately put my hands behind my back before facing the door and putting on a big and innocent smile, in which I heard my brother laugh at.

The principal appeared and greeted us. “Oh, great. You two are already here.”

Mathieu and I looked at each other slightly confused.

Did you do something too? I asked my brother through our mind-link, which technically wasn’t considered the usual wolf mind-link as we didn’t have wolves yet.

This was actually something the two of us discovered back when we were still kids. They consider it as some kind of twin connection. Both our dad and uncle now Alpha had it as well since they were also twins.

No! You’re the only rebel here, Anita Wolff. Mathieu hurriedly defended himself.

Sure, sure. Whatever you say, brother. I teased and he rolled his eyes at me.

“I was supposed to reprimand you for your actions, Ms. Wolff, but I just got off the phone with your mother and you two are needed back at home as soon as possible. It seems urgent so you two should hurry.”

Mathieu and I were slightly taken aback by the urgency out of nowhere, but didn’t waste any time to dilly dally. In a few minutes, we were out of school and already driving back home.

“What do you think it’s about?” I turned to Mathieu who was driving.

Mathieu got his student license immediately a day after we turned sixteen. Our parents wanted both of us to get it, but I got tied up baking that day and then never got around to getting my own license so he’s the only one that can drive between the two of us.

“I’m sure it’s nothing. Perhaps it is just a problem with the business. No big deal.” I could sense Mathieu was trying to not worry me.

Although our relationship could be a bit chaotic because we often teased each other, he was still always a big brother to me, even if he was born merely thirty seconds ahead of me. I remember that one time when we were kids, around five years old and we were visiting family back at the Grove when some war happened.

I couldn’t really remember a lot of it as I was too young, but I do remember Mathieu never leaving my side during that time. He kept telling me that everything was going to be alright and our father was going to come home soon. Those few days will forever be etched in my mind as one of the scariest times, but also remember it as a time I knew I could count on my big brother.

“The business? Why in the world would I be involved in that?” I turned to him with an “are you sure” look.

“Remember that time I went to the office and I almost flooded the hallway with goods from the vending machine?” I laughed remembering classes getting suspended, but our mom was out of town with her best friend so we had to stay at our father’s office.

Mathieu let out a snort from laughing too much. “Oh you’re ridiculous, Anita. What kind of thirteen-year-old would think they can single-handedly fix a broken machine?” He continued to laugh while we were at a stoplight.

“Ha-ha, laugh it off. Just because you’re Wolff Enterprises’ heir. Hmph.” I lightly punched him on the arm again.

Ever since we were kids, it had been a given that one of us was going to inherit the family business. It wasn’t sure if it was going to be him or I, or both. That was until Mathieu, the overachiever, stepped up every time help was needed and it was obvious he would be the rightful heir.

I didn’t mind, of course. Most of the time when something like this happens a lot of families get into a feud because they all pretty much want the money that comes with it, but we were raised better than that.

And you know what they say - ain't nobody got time fo dat!

“Last one in washes the dishes!” I shouted out to my brother as soon as I closed the door to the car.

Before he could say anything, I had already started running to get inside our apartment. Our place was located on the Upper West Side of New York and it was three floors with a penthouse. Our family owned other apartments but were usually being leased by other people and sometimes used by non-government organizations for relief and whatnot.

I was snickering to myself while I got my keys from inside my bag, fumbling to unlock the door when all of a sudden the door opened.

“Oh, hey, mom. We’re home.” I smiled at her before giving a quick kiss on the cheek and a hug.

“Good. Come in. We need to tell you something important.” Our mother hurriedly pulled Mathieu and I inside our house.

I watched confused as she scanned the outside rather nervously as if she was cautious about something or maybe even… someone.

“Venite qui, bambini (come here, kids).” Our father appeared behind us and motioned for us to sit in the living room.

There was a tension in the room that made me feel uneasy. Was this all because I ran out of the play today and disobeyed my English teacher? I doubt it, but I was beginning to think that sort of thing would have been better than whatever this is.

I turned to Mathieu with a worried look as we sat down next to each other on the couch and he gave me a reassuring smile.

It’s going to be fine.

He said through mind-link before taking my hand and squeezing it tightly.

Our parents weren’t usually the serious type. Heck, our family was very carefree, besides that is when it comes to serious things such as problems in the business, but lately that hasn’t happened. The business had always been going well. I think the last time there was ever a problem was when we were kids.

Other than that, the most serious I have seen them recently was during game night, so all this was honestly scaring me.

“What’s going on? Is it because of what I did at school?” I couldn’t help it. I had to speak up because the silence was killing me.

“Oh, no, sweetheart. It’s not. That was a good thing that you did, actually. Standing up for what you believe in. We are very proud of you, but next time don’t walk out on an adult, at least.” My mother gave me a comforting smile and I nodded my head slowly.

“Then… what? Why do you guys seem so serious?” I asked again.

“Anita, Mathieu…” Our father suddenly spoke up and I felt my entire body get tense.

My brother and I were scolded from time to time, yes, but it wasn’t anything like this. He got serious, but this was different. He was nervous about something as well, just like our mother was.

“Remember when you were kids I told you that in this world there are a lot of good, but at the same time, we cannot escape the bad?”

I swallowed nervously before nodding my head just as Mathieu did too.

“And that I have a duty to protect very important people, but before them, I must protect my family. I must protect the two of you.”

My heart was beating so fast as I stared into my father’s eyes, a mix of light hazel and green, the same as Mathieu’s whilst I got a mix of his and our mother’s. They were looking directly into mine and my brother’s and it was very stern. Just as he was as a person, completely unwavering.

“There are bad people trying to harm you in revenge for my duty, but I will not let that happen. I will never let any harm come to the two of you and your mother.” He let out a deep sigh before turning to her and holding her hand.

“Your mother and I made an important decision in order to keep the two of you safe and I do hope the two of you can understand.” He said with a soft smile.

“We have decided to transfer the two of you to a different school.” Our mother finally said, and it felt like things were starting to make sense.

A new school? They just wanted to move us to a new school? That didn’t sound so bad. In fact, that sounds great seeing as I can escape what I did just recently. This is perfect!

“Oh, alright. Where are we transferring? Will it be a neighboring school? I heard Washington High was not so bad, but the drive takes like an hour.” I told them and began to imagine if we went to school there.

Mathieu and I would either have to wake up very early in the morning or just stay in one of our apartments in Washington so we would be closer, but either way I didn’t mind. A new place sounded fun.

“Anita… I don’t think they mean a school here in the United States.” Mathieu suddenly explained and it was like the realization dawning on me like a wall being smashed into pieces.

“What… What do you mean? Then where would we go?” I turned to our parents with a slightly terrified look.

All my life I have been raised here. Sure, I have been to other countries as a kid because our father traveled a lot, but we went home to the US and I was used to this place. It was home.

“You have to transfer to a school for werewolves.”

I think my heart just dropped to the floor from surprise, and if that wasn’t shocking enough, they apparently weren’t done yet.

“In Spain.”

Hasta la vista (see you later), baby.

Mathieu linked to me with an amused smirk, obviously trying to mimic The Terminator, but I was less than amused.